Privacy Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Consumer Privacy Notice?

The WaFd Bank Consumer Privacy Notice is one way to let you know how we collect and use information about you. The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act requires financial institutions to provide an annual notice to customers outlining their privacy practices and depending on the institution's privacy practices, offer customers the opportunity to express their preference (opt out) to limit certain information sharing.

The Consumer Privacy Notice says that Federal law gives consumers the right to limit some, but not all, sharing. What are other ways you share under the law?

Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act we are permitted to share with third parties, without regard to customer choice, when we are required by to disclose the information (such as when responding to subpoenas or tax reporting), and for typical business activities (such as sharing to prevent fraud, resolve consumer disputes and enforce our rights).

Does the Consumer Privacy Notice apply to all transactions and other activities I perform while I'm banking online at WaFd Bank?

Yes. The Consumer Privacy Notice protects you when you are online at any WaFd Bank website. Your online activities are also covered by the Online Privacy Notice, which explains how we may collect information from you online when you visit a WaFd Bank site. The Online Privacy Notice also explains how we manage the privacy and security of your personal and account information online. To learn more, we encourage you to read our Online Privacy Notice.

How do I opt out of promotional email messages from WaFd Bank?

Email offers you receive from WaFd Bank or on behalf of WaFd Bank contain instructions about how to decline further promotional email messages. These instructions are generally located at the bottom of the original email solicitation. If you receive email messages from a third party sender, you will need to follow the opt-out instructions provided in the third party email, or you'll need to contact the third party directly. Before you provide personal information, we encourage you to read the privacy policies and terms and conditions of the websites you visit to ensure you agree with their policies and email practices.

How do I know my personal information stored at WaFd Bank is secure?

We value the trust you have placed in us and are committed to protecting your personal information. Only our employees with a business reason for knowing a customer's financial information are authorized to have access to it. WaFd Bank employees adhere to a code of ethics that requires the confidential treatment of customer information and receive annual training in the protection of customer information. We also maintain physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to protect against unauthorized access to customer information.

Our information security policy has been designed to protect the security of our customers' personal information. Our Board of Directors has approved the policy and is kept informed of the status of the program. In addition, our information security program is subject to oversight and examination by federal regulators.

How do I know that WaFd Bank third party vendors keep my information secure?

We are committed to providing customers with cost-effective and high-quality products and services. One way we do that is to use other companies with expertise and demonstrated efficiencies. We use great care in choosing these third-party vendors and have a vendor management policy that has been approved by our Board of Directors. Providers with access to customer information must meet strict requirements with respect to information security, are bound by contract to maintain the confidentiality of your confidential information, and are subject to audit and review.